Metal builder&#39;s construction material



g- 1959 T. PRIMICH METAL B UILDERfS CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL Filed Sept. 27. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 g 1959 T. PRlMlCH METAL BUILDER s CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL Filed Sept. 27. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 37 'Fmmfu 32 aver/(70.2 0/ /02 M4a2r Aug. 4, 1959 2,897,930

T. PRIMICH METAL BUILDER'S CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL Filed Sept. 27. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 2,897,930 METAL BUILDERS CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL Theodore Primich, Gary, Ind.

Application September 27, 1955, Serial No. 536,861 13 Claims. Cl. 189-86) The present invention relates to a new metal builders construction material, and more particularly to a sheet metal building member adapted to cover a plane surface on a house or similar structure.

Heretofore sheet metal building material for the siding of a house or other structure has been used. In some instances an attempt has been made to utilize a light material, such as aluminum, to provide a surface having the appearance of the ,usual wood clapboard siding. Often times such materials have been found to have the disadvantage that protruding fasteners, nails, and so forth were subject to rust or corrosion thus discoloring the side of the house. Still other attempts have been made to use relatively large sheets of enameled steel. Such material, however, has had the disadvantage of requiring rather careful handling so as to preclude scratching or chipping the enameled surface during its application. The sheets have been relatively large and heavy, and thus require several men to handle a sheet to put it into posi tion. Enameled sheets are not readily adapted to odd sizes of structural surfaces, and hence an architect must design the house in accordance with certain units, of length thereby to minimize the necessity for odd pieces or sizes of the exterior covering.

In accordance with the present invention it is proposed to eliminate some of the disadvantages heretofore encountered in sheet metal building members for plane surfaces of houses and other structures by providing a conveniently usable sheet metal member which is readily handled by a single Workman and which may be sawed to the desired length. It is further contemplated that adequate provision will be provided for expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, and no protruding fasteners, 'nails, and the like are subject to any weathering or corrosive effect,

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provides a newand improved metal siding for houses and similar structures.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a new andimproved metal building material which has no visible nail or-fastenin-g means.

, It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved joint member between metal sheets which are to be used for covering roofs, walls and building sidings.

A still further object of the invention to provide an improved joint between the longitudinal edges of metal sheets or strips forcovering plane surfaces which provides for expansion and contraction due to temperatures variations.

. Other and further objects of the invention subsequently will become apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

; Figure 1 illustrates'the application of the material of the present invention to a building such as a house;

flFigureVZ showsdetails of the material of the invention when applied to a plane surface;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one piece of material constructed in'accordance with the invention;

A Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a wall to which the material of'the invention has been applied;

L Figure 5 is an enlarged partial view showing the construction and the cooperative relation between adjacent s'heetsof material;

2,897,930 Patented Aug. 4, 1959 ice *Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view as seen in the direction of the anows along the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

a Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 7-7 of Figure 6; Figure'S is a cross-sectional view as seen in the direction of'the arrows along the line 88 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view showing the joining member used between the ends of two pieces of material; T

v Figure 10 is a detail perspective view showing the corner joining member at the corner of a structure;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view as seen in the directionof the arrows 11-11 of Figure 10; and

Figure 12'isa cross-sectional view as seen in the directio'n of the-arrows along the line 12-12 of Figure 2.

In Figure 1 there have been shown several applications of the present building material to a small home 10 having 'a'n'attached garage. Certain vertical surfaces have been covered with horizontally arranged sheet metal members as fat-11. Other portions of the house, as at 12, have been covered with vertically arranged metal strips, which, as is'apparent from opposite sides of the doorway and the front windows, enhances the appearance of the structure. The roof is covered with horizontally arranged strips 14, which-may be embossed and suitably colored to simulate a shingle roof. At the corners of the structure, as at 15, certain corner members are employed which subsequently will be described.

Figure 2 shows a plane surface 16, such as the vertical wall of the house 10, to which has been applied a plurality of horizontal sheet members 17. Where the members 17 are not of sufficient length to extend across the entire surface to be covered, they are arranged with their ends. in spaced apart relation, as at 18, and the ends are covered by a joining member 19 which has an exterior rectangular strip 21 connected to a backing strip 22.

1 edge a reversely folded portion 23 which is in contiguous relation, and another folded portion 24 which is spaced from the surface of the fold 23 by a distance which is substantially twice the thickness of the metal of the sheet 13. The latter folded edge portion of the sheet 13 extends appreciably beyond the edge of the first folded portion 23. This extending portion is provided at spaced intervals with integrally formed locking lugs 25, the spacing being substantially greater than the width of the lugs, and at other intervals with a plurality of elongated apertures 26 for receiving fastening nails, screws, and the Reference now may be had to Figures 4and 5 which show'the application of the sheet metal members to a .vertical wall 29. In the'application of clapboard, shingles, asbestos siding, and the like, it is customary to begin'to coverthe structure from the bottom and to workwupwaidlyflln the present .instancethe direction of operation begins from the top and moves on down to the bottom of the building. At the very top of the building there is provided a female member 31 which has a contiguous folded portion 32 similar in structure to the folded portion 23 of the sheet 13. The reversely folded portion 33 corresponds generally to thereversely'fplded portion 24 of the sheet 13 in Figure'3; It will'be noted that a nail or fastening member 34 passes through the member 33. The locking lug 35 engages the folded-over edge of the male member 27 of a sheet 13,? It is to be understood that the sheet 13, as applied to, the wall 29, is narrower than the sheet 13 shown in Figure 3,. but in all other respects has the same structural features. At the lower edge of the sheet 13 there is the reversely fold: ed edge 23 and the refolded edge 24;;which' is secured in position by a nail 34. A succeeding sheet13, has its male member comprising the folded edge 27' inserted into the female edge portion of the first sheet 13. It is to be noted that a certain space 36 appearsbetween a substantial portion of the sheet 13 and thewall 29. This space is of advantage since it overcomes the effects of any irregularities in the wall 29.

From the structure shown in Figure 4, it becomes apparent that the fastening members 34 are never visible to the exterior, and cannot be reached by weather elements such as rain. Hence there is little possibility of corrosion of the fastening members and any resultant discoloration of the sheet members 13. The 'sheet members 13 are directly applicable over a rough wood side wall 29, and also may be applied across fiberboard, plywood, insulation board, and the like, which materials are in common use in home construction today. The sheet metal members 13 may be of steel, aluminum, gal.- vanized sheet steel, or a combination of steel and aluminum. A siding member, such as the member 13, when made of steel and aluminum, would have the surface adjacent the wall 29 of a thin coating of aluminumto provide the advantage of a heat reflecting member. The steel side would be suitably treated so as to receivepaint or other suitable covering material. Where the sheets are made of aluminum, the aluminum surface, of course, on the side adjacent the wall 29 provides a heat insulation member which reflects heat. Certain processes for galvanizing sheet steel provide for making the exterior surface of the sheet member 13 such that paint or enamel readily adheres thereto. An intimate bond is readily achieved which is not subject to deterioration from moisture soaking into the side wall member, and which would not peel due to improper drying as in the instance of wood siding.

Referring to Figure 5, certain details of the starting member 31 will become apparent. The starting strip 31 is provided with a series of locking members 35 and a series of elongated openings 30. Suitable nails or fasten, ing members 34 pass through the openings 30. Each of the locking lugs 35 has a straight surface 37 which is parallel and closely adjacent to the folded fedge member 32. It will be noted that the sheet member 35 has an upper folded edge portion 27, and that the extreme edge portion 28 inclines slightly away from the back of the sheet 13 so that the extreme edge of the postion 28 engages the locking lugs 35 in biting relation. The female edge portion of the sheet 13 has a configuration very similar to the starting member 31. It will be noted that there is a slight clearance between the innersurf ace of the folded edge portion 32 and the reversely bent back portion 33 with respect to the upper edge 20 of the folded edge portion 27. This clearance serves a dual function. It provides for transverse expansion and contraction of the siding members, and also facilitates placing the siding members 13 in position. For example, the siding members 13 may come in ten foot lengths which can be readily handled by a single workman. The single workman can start one end of the member 13 into engagement with the locking members 35, and progressively engage other locking members. Thus, it is not necessary to align the entire edge 20 of the member 13 absolutely parallel with folded edge 32 before moving the member 13 into position. This progressive engagement of the locking members 35, therefore, makes it possible for a single workman to properly engage the entire effective folded edge 27 of a sheet 13 with the female member with which it is to be engaged. In many other types of cooperative joints this is not practical, and hence several workmen would be required in order to place into position a single ten foot length of material.

In Figure 2 there is shown the relationship between the butt ends of several sheet members 17 which are in cooperative relation with a joining member 19. The joining member 19 has a small rectangular member 21 which is secured to a backing member 22. The backing member 22 is several times as wide and slightly longer than the front rectangular member 21. Both members are connected together at their center line 41 by a series of spot welds 42 shown in Figure 9. The perspective view in Figure 9 shows that the backing member 22 is merely placed against the wall 29, and frictionally retained in position by the engagement of one end of the member 17. From the cross-sectional view in Figure 6 it will be noted that the rear surface of the member 22 along the center line 41 has a slightly concave configuration 43 so that the front surface of the member 21 remains in a plane. The lower edge of the member 21 is formed into a channel-shaped portion 44 so as to bridge the folded edge portion 23.

The cross-sectional views in Figures 7 and 8 further show the cooperative relation between the joining member 19 and the butt ends of two siding members 17.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view as seen in the direction of the arrows 12-12 which pass through the upper portion of the bridging member 19 and two adjacent sheets 17. From this it will be noted that the male portion of the lower sheet 17 has its locking edge 28 in biting engagement with the locking member 25 of the lower edge portion of the upper sheet 17. The inner surface or back side of the upper sheet 17 is contiguous to a portion of the backing plate 22 of the bridging member 19. It will be noted that the upper edge of the from member 21 is adequately protected from weather by the female portion of the lower edge of the upper sheet 17.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the corner construction which would appear at a corner 15 of a building such as shown in Figure l. The corner bridging member comprises a backing sheet 51 having an angular cross-section. Another angular member 52 is placed in alignment with the corner portion of the member 51 and spot Welded at the corner by a plurality of spot welds 53. The lower edge portion of the outer corner member 52 is provided with a channel-like portion 54 similar to the channel portion 44 of the member shown in Figures 2. and 9. From the cross-sectional view in Figure 11 it will be noted that along the line of the spot welds 53 the corner portion of the member 51 is'bent outwardly to provide adequate space between the outer surface of the plate 51 and the inner or back side surface of the outer plate 52 to accommodate the sheet metal member 17. Thecorner member shown in Figures 10 and 11 will be retained in position by the configuration of the device and the friction with the butt ends of the two siding members 17. If desired, a fastening member could be passed through the extreme end hole or aperture 26 to pass through the backing member 51. However, such securing means are not necessarily required.

While the discussion of the structures shown in Fig.

ures 2 to 11 has been directed to the application of siding members arranged horizontally, as at 11 in the house in Figure 1, it is to be understood that the construction is similar for vertically arranged members, such as 12 adjacent the doorway and window openings of the house 10 in Figure 1. Also similar construction features are found in the covering applied to the roof 14. It was previously mentioned that the sheet metal building members, when applied to the roof, might be embossed so as to provide the more conventional appearance of a shingle roof. This, however, is not necessary, but is mentioned to illustrate that the material is architecturally compatible with othe materials used on other houses. Thus, it is impossible to utilize the wide clapboard effect, even though a stone or brick trim is to be employed as illustrated in Figure 1. If, for any reason, a series of horizontal lines only is deemed not architecturally, desirable, this simulated shingle characteristic can be obtained.

While for the purpose of illustrating and describing the present invention certain preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings to illustrate the principles of construction thereof, it is to be understood that such variations are contemplated as may commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sheet metal building member adapted to cover horizontally a plane surf-ace comprising an elongated rectangular sheet having its lower edge portion folded over toward the back of the sheet in contiguous relation and reversely folded in spaced relation to said first fold a distance equivalent to slightly more than twice the thickness of said sheet to form a downwardly facing female member, said latter folded portion extending beyond the first folded edge, a plurality of inclined locking lugs struck forwardly from the surface of the latter extending edge portion, said lugs being arranged at spaced intervals along said extending edge portion and each having an inner edge parallel to the edge of said sheet, a plurality of apertures interposed between said lugs for receiving fastening nails or screws, the upper longitudinal edge of said sheet being folded rearwardly in contiguous relation to form a male member having a rear portion extending downward a distance slightly less than the distance between the inner edges of the lugs and the reverse fold forming the upper end of the female member, whereby said male member is arranged to sequentially engage the lugs of an identical member in a progressive manner.

2. A sheet metal member for covering horizontally the plane surface of a building comprising a long narrow rectangular sheet having one longitudinal edge portion folded in contiguous relation and reversely folded in spaced relation thereto a distance equal to slightly more than twice the thickness of said sheet to form a female member, said reversely folded portion extending an appreciable distance beyond the first folded edge and having a plurality of apertures and locking lugs arranged paralllel to the edge, said locking lugs being integrally formed out of that portion extending beyond said first folded edge, each of said lugs having an inner edge parallel to and adjacent said first folded edge, the other longitudinal edge portion of said sheet being reversely folded in contiguous relation to form a male member for cooperation with the female member of another similar sheet metal member, said latter folded edge portion extending toward the center of the sheet a distance slightly less than the distance between the edge of a locking lug on a female member and the reverse fold forming the female member.

3. The sheet metal member as set forth in claim 1 wherein the apertures are elongated longitudinally of said sheet to allow for expansion and contraction due to temperature changes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 422,571 Cooper Mar. 4, 1890 1,250,551 Brooks Dec. 18, 1917 1,826,452 Carpenter et al. Oct. 6, 1931 2,178,357 Hoess Oct. 31, 1939 2,189,159 Anschicks Feb. 6, 1940 2,498,753 Deitsch Feb. 28, 1950 2,565,610 Kinghorn Aug. 28, 1951 

